Location-based services in wireless networks

ABSTRACT

Wireless networks, mobile devices, and associated methods are disclosed that provide a location-based service to a requesting mobile subscriber. The location-based service allows a requesting mobile subscriber to identify other mobile subscribers in a geographic area, such as in the proximity of the user or another designated area. To implement the service, a wireless network transmits processes location information for mobile subscribers of the wireless network to identify other mobile subscribers in the geographic area. The wireless network then transmits the location information for the other mobile subscribers to the mobile device of the requesting mobile subscriber. The mobile device then indicates the other mobile subscribers in the geographic area to the requesting mobile subscriber, such as by displaying a list or displaying the other mobile subscribers on a map. The requesting mobile subscriber may then initiate any form of voice or data communication with the other mobile subscribers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is related to a co-pending patent applicationhaving the Ser. No. 10/953,740, filed on Sep. 29, 2004, which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to the field of communications, and inparticular, to providing location-based services to mobile subscribersof a wireless network. More particularly, the location-based servicedescribed herein allows a mobile subscriber to identify other mobilesubscribers in a geographic area, and initiate communication with one ormore of the other mobile subscribers.

2. Statement of the Problem

Cellular phones, PCS phones, and other mobile wireless data devices havebecome very popular due to the conveniences that they provide to people.Wireless devices have become compact in size, which make them easy andconvenient to carry. People routinely carry their cell phones orwireless PDAs with them on their belt, in their pocket, in their purse,etc, so they are available for use at any time.

Because of the large demand for wireless voice and data services,service providers strive to offer new services to current and potentialcustomers. Some exemplary services are text messaging, digital pictures,web browsing, etc. A new trend for service providers is to providelocation-based services. The location-based services provide informationto a subscriber based on the location of the subscriber. For instance,the location-based services may send informational text messages to thesubscriber's phone, such as information on the weather, information ontraffic reports, advertisements, etc, based on the location of thesubscriber.

Another location-based service allows a user to track the location ofone or more individuals defined in a “buddy list” through their wirelessdevice. Although this service may be useful, it also requires the userto generate and maintain the buddy list. The user thus has to know theindividuals he/she is programming into the buddy list, and their phonenumber, email address, etc. A user may want to identify and/orcommunicate with other individuals, groups, businesses, and services inhis/her vicinity or another geographic area regardless of whether theuser has programmed them into his/her buddy list.

SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION

The invention solves the above problems and other problems by providinga location-based service that allows a mobile subscriber to identifyother mobile subscribers in a geographic area, and initiatecommunication with one or more of the other mobile subscribers. Thelocation-based service may also provide an indication of thecommunication capabilities of the other mobile subscribers.Advantageously, the mobile subscriber requesting the location-basedservice can determine the other mobile subscribers that are in his/hervicinity, and how to communicate with those other subscribers. Therequesting mobile subscriber can also determine the other mobilesubscribers that are in another geographic area remote from therequesting mobile subscriber, and how to communicate with those othersubscribers. The requesting mobile subscriber does not have to maintaina buddy list to receive the service, as the wireless network or themobile device automatically determines what other mobile subscribers arein the geographic area and indicates those other mobile subscribes tothe requesting mobile subscriber. The location-based serviceadvantageously expands the number of individuals the requesting mobilesubscriber can communicate with, even to individuals for which therequesting mobile subscriber did not previously know their phone number,email address, webpage, etc.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a method of operating awireless network to provide the location-based service to a mobilesubscriber requesting the service (referred to as the requesting mobilesubscriber). A location-based service system (referred to as servicesystem) receives location information for the mobile subscribers of thewireless network from one or more network nodes. Location informationcomprises any information on the geographic location of a mobilesubscriber, such as a latitude/longitude of a mobile subscriber, aphysical address of a mobile subscriber, etc. The service systemprocesses the location information to identify other mobile subscribersin a particular geographic area. For instance, the geographic area maybe a geographic area proximate to or in the proximity of the requestingmobile subscriber, or another geographic area designated by therequesting mobile subscriber. The service system then transmits thelocation information for the other mobile subscribers identified to bein the geographic area to the mobile device of the requesting mobilesubscriber. For instance, the service system may generate an HTML fileindicating the location information for the other mobile subscribers,and transmit the HTML file to the mobile device of the requesting mobilesubscriber. The mobile device may then indicate to the requesting mobilesubscriber, the other mobile subscribers in the geographic area, such asby displaying the HTLM web page.

Other embodiments comprise mobile devices and associated methods forproviding the location-based services. A mobile device of the requestingmobile subscriber is adapted to receive the location information fromthe wireless network. The mobile device is further adapted to processthe location information to identify the other mobile subscribers in aparticular geographic area. The mobile device is further adapted toindicate the other mobile subscribers in the geographic area to therequesting mobile subscriber, such as by displaying a list of the othermobile subscribers or by displaying the other mobile subscribers on amap. The requesting mobile subscriber may then select one or more of theother mobile subscribers, and the mobile device is further adapted toinitiate communication with the selected other mobile subscriber.

The mobile device may be further adapted to receive subscriberinformation from the wireless network indicating the communicationcapabilities of the other mobile subscribers. The mobile device may thenindicate the communication capabilities of the other mobile subscribersto the requesting mobile subscriber. Examples of communicationcapabilities include voice capabilities, text messaging capabilities,instant messaging capabilities, chat room capabilities, web logcapabilities, web page capabilities, etc. The requesting mobilesubscriber can thus choose how to initiate communication with the othermobile subscribers based on their communication capabilities.

The invention may include other exemplary embodiments described below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network in an exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating the wirelessnetwork to provide the location-based service in an exemplary embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mobile device in an exemplary embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operating the mobiledevice in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary screen displayed by the mobile device inimplementing the location-based service described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by the mobiledevice in implementing the location-based service described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6 and the following description depict specific exemplaryembodiments of the invention to teach those skilled in the art how tomake and use the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventiveprinciples, some conventional aspects of the invention have beensimplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciatevariations from these embodiments that fall within the scope of theinvention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the featuresdescribed below may be combined in various ways to form multiplevariations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limitedto the specific embodiments described below, but only by the claims andtheir equivalents.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network 100 in an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention. Wireless network 100 comprises any wireless network forproviding voice and/or data communications, such as a cellular network,a PCS network, etc. Wireless network 100 includes a base station 102, aMobile Switching Center (MSC) 104, a location-based service system 106(referred to herein as service system 106), and one or more networknodes 108. Base station 102 is configured to provide wireless service toa plurality of mobile devices 111-114, and a plurality of other mobiledevices not shown. Base station 102 may communicate with mobile devices111-114 using Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), 802.11 WiFi,BlueTooth (Registered), satellite, packet radio, or another protocol.Wireless network 100 may include many other base stations (not shown) toprovide service to many mobile subscribers (not shown). Mobile devices111-114 comprise any devices or systems configured to communicate viawireless signals, such as a cell phone, a PDA, etc. Mobile devices111-114 are operated by mobile subscribers 121-124, respectively.Wireless network 100 may include other devices, systems, or componentsnot shown in FIG. 1, such as additional base stations, additional MSCs,a Home Location Register (HLR), etc. Wireless network 100 may haveinterconnections not shown in FIG. 1. For example, network node 108 mayalso be connected to MSC 104, base station 102, or other network nodesnot shown.

According to features and aspects herein, wireless network 100 isadapted to provide a location-based service to mobile subscribers121-124. The location-based service allows a mobile subscriber toidentify other mobile subscribers in his/her vicinity or anothergeographic area, and initiate communication with one or more of theother mobile subscribers. Assume that mobile subscriber 121 requests thelocation-based service from wireless network 100.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of operating wirelessnetwork 100 to provide the location-based service in an exemplaryembodiment of the invention. The steps of method 200 will be describedwith reference to wireless network 100 in FIG. 1. The steps of the flowchart in FIG. 2 are not all inclusive and may include other steps notshown.

In step 202, service system 106 receives location information for themobile subscribers 121-124, and possibly other mobile subscribers ofwireless network 100, from network node 108 (and possibly other networknodes). Location information comprises any information on the geographiclocation of a mobile subscriber, such as a latitude/longitude of amobile subscriber, a physical address of a mobile subscriber, etc.Wireless networks 100 traditionally determine and store locationinformation of mobile subscribers in one or more network nodes 108, suchas to provide locations of mobile subscribers to E911 services. Networknode 108 may receive the location information from GPS-enabled mobiledevices. Network node 108 may alternatively determine the locationinformation by using techniques such as triangulation. Network node 108may transmit the location information for all of the mobile subscribersof wireless network 100 to service system 106. Network node 108 mayalternatively transmit the location information for the mobilesubscribers that subscribe to the location-based service to servicesystem 106, thus giving the service provider permission to use theirlocation information.

In step 204, service system 106 processes the location information toidentify other mobile subscribers 122-124 in a geographic area. Thegeographic area may be defined by being a geographic area proximate to(or in a proximity of) and/or surrounding mobile subscriber 121. In suchan embodiment, the service system 106 can dynamically determine thegeographic area based on the location of mobile subscriber 121. Thegeographic area may alternatively be remote from mobile subscriber asdesignated by mobile subscriber 121. For instance, mobile subscriber 121can enter a point of interest, such as an address or landmark, andservice system 106 automatically determines the geographic area based onthe designated point of interest.

The size of the geographic area may depend on the location of thegeographic area. For instance, if the geographic area is in a largecity, then the size of the geographic area may be about a city block. Ifthe geographic area is in a rural area, then the size of the geographicarea may be a square mile or more. The size of the geographic area usedby service system 106 may be set and provided by mobile subscriber 121.The size of the geographic area may alternatively be dynamicallydetermined by service system 106 based on the number of other mobilesubscribers found to be in the geographic area. For instance, if thegeographic area is initially a square mile, service system 106 may findthousands of other mobile subscribers in this geographic area,especially if mobile subscriber 121 is in a large city. This number ofother mobile subscribers may be more than mobile device 111 coulddisplay to mobile subscriber 121. Thus, service system 106 may reducethe size of the geographic area until the number of other mobilesubscribers identified is less than a threshold number, such as 10, 20,50, etc.

In identifying the other mobile subscribers 122-124 in the geographicarea in step 204, service system 106 may first determine the location ofmobile subscriber 121 or the point of interest as designated by mobilesubscriber 121. Service system 106 may then define the geographic areaaround mobile subscriber 121 or the designated point of interest.Service system 106 then determines one or more other mobile subscribers122-124 that are in the geographic area. As stated above, the size ofthe geographic area may depend on the number of other subscribers foundto be in the geographic area.

In step 206, service system 106 transmits the location information forthe other mobile subscribers 122-124 identified to be in the geographicarea to mobile device 111. Service system 106 transmits the locationinformation to mobile device 111 through MSC 104 and base station 102.Service system 106 may transmit the location information in any desiredsignaling message or data message. For instance, service system 106 maytransmit the location information in the form of an HTML file that maybe displayed by mobile device 111 as a web page. The HTML file mayindicate the location of the other mobile subscriber 122-124 such as ona map, in a list, etc.

In some embodiments, service system 106 may additionally determinecommunication capabilities of the other mobile subscribers 122-124.Network node 108 or other systems or servers in wireless network 100store information on the communication capabilities of mobile devices111-114. Communication capabilities may include voice capabilities, textmessaging capabilities, instant messaging capabilities, chat roomcapabilities, web log capabilities, web page capabilities, etc. Mobilesubscribers 121-124 may register the capabilities of their mobiledevices 111-114 when registering for the service. Alternatively,wireless network 100 may be able to determine the communicationcapabilities of mobile devices 111-114. Service system 106 transmitssubscriber information to mobile device 111 indicating the communicationcapabilities of the other mobile subscribers 122-124.

The subscriber information may include information on communicating witha particular mobile device or mobile subscriber. For instance, if acommunication capability of mobile subscriber 122 is voice, then thesubscriber information may also include a phone number for mobilesubscriber 122. The phone number may only be displayed if mobilesubscriber 122 allows for that information to be shared. For privacyreasons, mobile subscriber 122 may choose not to share a number ordisplay voice (or any other) communication capability. In the case wherevoice communication is available, but the number is not displayed,mobile subscriber 121 would still be able initiate a call. Wirelessnetwork 100 will place the call internally without divulging any privateinformation. Additionally, even when the phone number is available,mobile subscriber 121 would not have to dial any numbers. Mobilesubscriber 121 could click or select the option and wireless network 100will connect the call.

If a communication capability of mobile subscriber 122 is email, thenthe subscriber information also includes an email address of mobilesubscriber 122. If a communication capability of mobile subscriber 122is a chat room, then the subscriber information also includes a networkaddress of the chat room currently occupied by mobile subscriber 122. Ifa communication capability of mobile subscriber 122 is a web log, thenthe subscriber information also includes a network address of the weblog. If a communication capability of mobile subscriber 122 is a webpage, then the subscriber information also includes a network address ofthe web page.

FIG. 3 illustrates mobile device 111 in an exemplary embodiment of theinvention. Mobile device 111 comprises any device configured tocommunicate via wireless signals, such as a cell phone, a PDA, etc.Mobile device 111 includes a network interface 302, a processing system304, and a user interface 306. User interface 306 is configured toprovide information to and receive input from mobile subscriber 121.User interface 306 provides information to mobile subscriber 121 using adisplay, audio, mechanical, and/or any other interface. User interface306 is also configured to receive input from mobile subscriber 121through a keypad, a touch screen, a pointing device, voice input, and/orany other interface.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method 400 of operating mobiledevice 111 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The steps ofmethod 400 will be described with reference to wireless network 100 inFIG. 1 and mobile device 111 in FIG. 3. The steps of the flow chart inFIG. 4 are not all inclusive and may include other steps not shown.

In step 402, network interface 302 receives location information fromservice system 106 of wireless network 100. In one embodiment, thelocation information may comprise the location information for all orsubstantially all of the mobile subscribers of wireless network 100. Inanother embodiment, the location information may comprise the locationinformation for a subset of all of the mobile subscribers of wirelessnetwork 100 as determined by wireless network 100. For instance,wireless network 100 may process or filter the location information asdescribed in FIG. 2 so that the location information provided to mobiledevice 111 is for other mobile subscribers found by wireless network 100to be in a particular geographic area. In such as instance, the locationinformation may be provided by wireless network in the form of an HTMLfile or another data file.

If wireless network 100 processes the location information and providesthe location information in the form of an HTML file or another filethat may be displayed by mobile device 111, then method 400 may skip tostep 406. If wireless network 100 does not provide a displayable file,but rather provides location information to be processed by mobiledevice 111, then method 400 proceeds as follows.

In step 404, processing system 304 processes the location information toidentify other mobile subscribers 122-124 in a geographic area. Aspreviously described, the geographic area may be defined by being ageographic area proximate to (or in a proximity of) and/or surroundingmobile subscriber 121. The geographic area may alternatively be remotefrom mobile subscriber as designated by mobile subscriber 121. Forinstance, mobile subscriber 121 can enter a point of interest, such asan address or landmark, around which the geographic area is defined.

To identify other mobile subscribers 122-124 in a geographic area aroundmobile subscriber 121, processing system 304 processes the locationinformation from wireless network 100 to determine the location ofmobile subscriber 121. Processing system 304 may then determine one ormore other mobile subscribers 122-124 that are in the geographic areaaround mobile subscriber 121. As previously discussed, the size of thegeographic area may change based on the input from mobile subscriber121, or based on the number of other mobile subscribers 122-124 found tobe in the geographic area. User interface 306 can only provide a certainamount of information to mobile subscriber 121, so processing system 304may adjust the geographic area so that the number of other mobilesubscribers 122-124 found to be in the geographic area is below athreshold number.

To identify other mobile subscribers 122-124 in any other geographicarea designated by mobile subscriber 121, processing system 304 mayfirst identify a point of interest as designated by mobile subscriber121, although the geographic area may be defined in many other ways.Processing system 304 may then identify a location of the point ofinterest if not already know. Processing system 304 may then process thelocation information from wireless network 100 to identify one or moreother mobile subscribers 122-124 that are in the geographic area aroundthe point of interest.

In step 406, processing system 304 indicates the other mobilesubscribers 122-124 in the geographic area through user interface 306.Processing system 304 may display a list of the other mobile subscribers122-124 through user interface 306. Processing system 304 mayalternatively or additionally display the other mobile subscribers122-124 on a background map through user interface 306. The map would beof the geographic area. Processing system 304 may indicate the othermobile subscribers 122-124 according to any desired visual means and/oraudio means. For instance, processing system 304 may execute anapplication to display a browser tailored for the location-basedservice. If wireless network 100 provided an HTML file, then the browsercan display the HTML file as provided by wireless network 100.Processing system 304 may also generate an HTML or another type of filefor display by the browser.

As part of displaying the other mobile subscribers 122-124, processingsystem 304 may display a name of the subscribers, a nickname of thesubscribers, a thumbnail picture of the subscribers, etc. Suchinformation may be provided by wireless network 100.

Method 400 repeats as shown in FIG. 4. This is to indicate that mobiledevice 111 is continually updating, meaning that the informationprovided to mobile subscriber 121 is updated as mobile subscriber 121 ismoving.

Mobile device 111 may also receive subscriber information from wirelessnetwork 100 that indicates the communication capabilities of the othermobile subscribers 122-124. Responsive to receiving the subscriberinformation through network interface 302, processing system 304indicates the communication capabilities of the other mobile subscribers122-124 to mobile subscriber 121 through user interface 306. Processingsystem 304 may indicate the communication capabilities in a list throughuser interface 306. Processing system 304 may alternatively indicate thecommunication capabilities as icons understood to be associated withparticular communication capabilities. For instance, an icon resemblinga phone may be used for voice capabilities. A “TM” icon may be used fortext messaging capabilities. An “IM” icon may be used for instantmessaging capabilities.

After indicating the other mobile subscribers 122-124 and possibly theircorresponding communication capabilities, mobile subscriber 121 mayselect one or more of the other mobile subscribers 122-124 tocommunicate with. Selections may be made by highlighting one or more ofthe other mobile subscribers 122-124 indicated on user interface 306,keying in an identity of one or more of the other mobile subscribers122-124, using voice recognition, or another interface capabilityprovided for by user interface 306. For instance, if processing system304 provides a list of the other mobile subscribers 122-124 through userinterface 306, then mobile subscriber 121 may scroll through the list toselect one or more of the other mobile subscribers 122-124.

Responsive to the selection by mobile subscriber 121, processing system304 initiates communication with the selected other mobile subscriber122-124. For instance, processing system 304 may initiate a call to theselected other mobile subscriber 122-124 through network interface 302.The manner in which processing system 304 initiates communication maydepend on the communication capabilities of the mobile device of theselected other mobile subscriber 122-124. As an example, assume theselected other mobile subscriber is mobile subscriber 122. Furtherassume that processing system 304 indicates that mobile subscriber 122has voice, instant message, and chat room capabilities. If mobilesubscriber 121 chooses to the voice option, then processing system 304initiates a call to the phone number of mobile subscriber 122. If mobilesubscriber 121 chooses to the instant messaging option, then processingsystem 304 generates an instant message as defined by mobile subscriber122 and transmits the instant message to wireless network 100. If mobilesubscriber 121 chooses the chat room option, then processing system 304attempts to enter the chat room currently occupied by mobile subscriber122.

To initiate communication, processing system 304 transmits acommunication request (e.g., a signaling message, a text message, etc)to wireless network 100. Wireless network 100 receives the communicationrequest from mobile device 111, and initiates communication with one ofthe other mobile subscribers indicated in the communication request.

The location-based service described herein may be useful forindividuals. For instance, if mobile subscriber 121 comes upon anaccident on a highway, mobile subscriber 121 can identify other mobilesubscribers in the area and contact one or more of the other mobilesubscribers to determine if help is needed. If the accident has caused atraffic jam, mobile subscriber 121 may also contact one or more of theother mobile subscribers to find an alternate route around the accident.

The location-based service described herein may also be useful forbusinesses. For instance, a business can identify mobile subscribers inthe area and transmit marketing information, information on specials,information on sales, etc, to the mobile subscribers. The informationmay be sent, for example, in the form of Really Simple Syndication (RSS)messages, which may pop up as banners on the display of the mobiledevices or through a dynamically updated webpage. The business can thusprovide time sensitive information to the mobile subscribers in thearea.

EXAMPLE

FIGS. 5-6 illustrate examples of using the location-based serviceaccording to features and aspects herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary screen displayed by mobile device 111 inimplementing the location-based service described herein. As in FIGS.3-4, mobile device 111 receives location information from wirelessnetwork 100. In this example, mobile device 111 receives the locationinformation in the form of an HTML file as provided by wireless network100. The HTML file indicates one or more mobile subscribers in aparticular geographic area. Mobile device 111 then displays a web pageto mobile subscriber 121 based on the HTML file.

In this example, mobile device 111 displays mobile subscriber 121 on amap, which is indicated on the map by a star in FIG. 5. Mobile device111 also displays four other mobile subscribers found to be in thegeographic area, which is the geographic area around mobile subscriber121 in this example. The other mobile subscribers in this example areSubscriber A, Subscriber B, Subscriber C, and Subscriber D. Mobiledevice 111 displays the location of Subscribers A-D on the map inrelation to mobile subscriber 121. Mobile device 111 also displays alist of Subscribers A-D. In the list, mobile device 111 may displaynames of Subscribers A-D, nicknames of Subscribers A-D, thumbnailpictures of Subscribers A-D, etc.

In viewing the display of mobile device 111, mobile subscriber 121 isable to determine what other mobile subscribers or services are inhis/her vicinity. Mobile subscriber 121 did not need to predefine abuddy list in order to view the other mobile subscribers, as thelocation information on the other mobile subscribers is provided bywireless network 100. Mobile device 111 may also include a PublicServices (Public Serv) button. This button may comprise a networkaddress to one or more public services, such as police, emergencymedical, fire, weather, traffic, roadside assistance, etc.

Mobile device 111 allows mobile subscriber 121 to select one or more ofSubscribers A-D in the map or in the list. Mobile subscriber 121 mayview more information of the selected subscriber, such as thecommunication capabilities of a particular subscriber. For instance,mobile subscriber 121 may select Subscriber A.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary screen displayed by mobile device111 in implementing the location-based service described herein.Responsive to the selection of Subscriber A by mobile subscriber 121,mobile device 111 displays the communication capabilities of SubscriberA. In this example, Subscriber A as voice capabilities, InstantMessaging (IM) capabilities, and chat room capabilities. Mobilesubscriber 121 may then select one of the communication capabilities tocommunicate with Subscriber A.

For instance, if mobile subscriber 121 selects the voice option, thenmobile device 111 initiates communication with Subscriber A by callingphone number XXX-XXX-XXXX. Mobile subscriber 121 does not have tophysically dial a phone number for Subscriber A, as the phone number forSubscriber A may not always be available to mobile subscriber 121.Mobile subscriber 121 can select the option to place a voice call, andwireless network 100 initiates signaling and call-processing proceduresinternally. Wireless network 100 stores information of Subscriber A andconnects the call.

If mobile subscriber 121 selects the IM option, then mobile device 111will provide an IM screen to mobile subscriber 121 to allow mobilesubscriber 121 to compose a message. Mobile device 111 then initiatescommunication with Subscriber A by transmitting the message toSubscriber A based on a network address of Subscriber A or a phonenumber of Subscriber A.

If mobile subscriber 121 selects the chat room option, then mobiledevice 111 will log mobile subscriber 121 into the chat room currentlyoccupied by Subscriber A. Mobile device 111 will also provide a chatroom screen to mobile subscriber 121 that displays the presentconversation in the chat room. Mobile subscriber 111 may then conversewith Subscriber A in the chat room.

Mobile device 111 may also display a web page button. This button allowsmobile subscriber 121 to make information public to anyone who might beinterested.

Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims and any equivalentsthereof.

1. A method of operating a wireless network to provide a location-basedservice to a mobile subscriber requesting the location-based service,the method comprising: receiving location information for the mobilesubscribers of the wireless network from at least one network node ofthe wireless network; processing the location information to identifyother mobile subscribers in a geographic area; and transmitting thelocation information for the other mobile subscribers identified to bein the geographic area to the mobile device of the requesting mobilesubscriber.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic areacomprises a geographic area proximate to the requesting mobilesubscriber or another geographic area designated by the requestingmobile subscriber.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:determining communication capabilities of the other mobile subscribers;and transmitting subscriber information indicating the communicationcapabilities of the other mobile subscribers to the mobile device of therequesting mobile subscriber.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein thecommunication capabilities include at least one of voice capabilities,text messaging capabilities, instant messaging capabilities, chat roomcapabilities, web log capabilities, or web page capabilities.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising one of: receiving an indication ofthe geographic area from the mobile device of the requesting mobilesubscriber; or dynamically determining the geographic area based on thenumber of other mobile subscribers found to be in the geographic area.6. A method of operating a mobile device to provide a location-basedservice to a mobile subscriber requesting the location-based service,the method comprising: receiving location information for mobilesubscribers from a wireless network serving the mobile device;processing the location information to identify other mobile subscribersin a geographic area; and indicating the other mobile subscribers in thegeographic area to the requesting mobile subscriber.
 7. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the geographic area comprises a geographic areaproximate to the requesting mobile subscriber or another geographic areadesignated by the requesting mobile subscriber.
 8. The method of claim 6further comprising: receiving a selection of one of the other mobilesubscribers by the requesting mobile subscriber; and initiatingcommunication with the selected other mobile subscriber.
 9. The methodof claim 6 further comprising: receiving subscriber information from thewireless network indicating the communication capabilities of the othermobile subscribers; and indicating the communication capabilities of theother mobile subscribers to the requesting mobile subscriber.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the communication capabilities include atleast one of voice capabilities, text messaging capabilities, instantmessaging capabilities, chat room capabilities, web log capabilities, orweb page capabilities.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:receiving a selection of one of the other mobile subscribers and aselection of one of the communication capabilities of the selected othermobile subscriber by the requesting mobile subscriber; and initiatingcommunication with the selected other mobile subscriber based on theselected communication capability.
 12. The method of claim 6 whereinindicating the other mobile subscribers comprises: displaying a list ofthe other mobile subscribers.
 13. The method of claim 6 whereinindicating the other mobile subscribers comprises: displaying the othermobile subscribers on a map of the geographic area.
 14. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the geographic area is set by the requesting mobilesubscriber or is dynamically determined by the mobile device based on anumber of the other mobile subscribers in the geographic area.
 15. Amobile device adapted to provide a location-based service to a mobilesubscriber requesting the location-based service, the mobile devicecomprising: a user interface adapted to provide information to therequesting mobile subscriber and receive input from the requestingmobile subscriber; and a processing system adapted to receive locationinformation of mobile subscribers from a wireless network serving themobile device, process the location information to identify other mobilesubscribers in a geographic area, and indicate the other mobilesubscribers in the geographic area through the user interface.
 16. Themobile device of claim 15 wherein the geographic area comprises ageographic area proximate to the requesting mobile subscriber or anothergeographic area designated by the requesting mobile subscriber.
 17. Themobile device of claim 15 wherein: the user interface is further adaptedto receive a selection of one of the other mobile subscribers by therequesting mobile subscriber; and the processing system is furtheradapted to initiate communication with the selected one other mobilesubscriber.
 18. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the processingsystem is further adapted to: receive subscriber information from thewireless network indicating the communication capabilities of the othermobile subscribers; and indicate the communication capabilities of theother mobile subscribers to the requesting mobile subscriber.
 19. Themobile device of claim 15 wherein the processing system is furtheradapted to: display a list of the other mobile subscribers through theuser interface.
 20. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the processingsystem is further adapted to: display the other mobile subscribers on amap of the geographic area.